Chester Arthur

Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st president of the United States, serving from September 19, 1881, to March 4, 1885. Born into a politically active New York family, Arthur became a lawyer, Republican Party organizer, and influential figure in New York politics before unexpectedly ascending to the presidency after the assassination of President James A. Garfield. Although he entered office closely associated with the era's powerful political machines and the patronage system, Arthur surprised many observers by supporting civil service reform and signing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. His presidency was relatively brief and occurred during a period of political and economic stability, but his willingness to challenge some of his former political allies gave his administration a more reform-oriented character than many had expected.

Arthur was born on October 5, 1829, in Fairfield, Vermont, the fifth of nine children of William Arthur and Malvina Stone Arthur. His father was a Baptist minister who moved the family frequently as he served congregations in Vermont, New York, and other communities. Arthur eventually attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he graduated in 1848. After teaching school for several years, he studied law and was admitted to the New York bar in 1854. During his early years in New York City, Arthur became involved in the Republican Party and developed a reputation as a polished, sociable, and politically ambitious young lawyer.

Arthur's legal and political career expanded rapidly during the years leading up to the Civil War. As a lawyer, he became involved in several important cases concerning the rights of African Americans and successfully represented Elizabeth Jennings Graham, a Black schoolteacher who had been forcibly removed from a New York streetcar. During the Civil War, Arthur served in the Union Army's quartermaster department and eventually attained the rank of brigadier general through his administrative responsibilities, although he did not see combat. After the war, he became deeply involved in New York Republican politics and aligned himself with the powerful political organization led by Senator Roscoe Conkling. Arthur was appointed Collector of the Port of New York in 1871, one of the most important federal patronage positions in the country, but President Rutherford B. Hayes removed him in 1878 as part of an effort to weaken the influence of political machines in federal appointments.

In 1880, Arthur was selected as James A. Garfield's running mate in an attempt to unite the Republican Party's competing factions. Garfield won the election, but his relationship with Arthur and Conkling's political organization remained strained. On July 2, 1881, Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker who believed that Garfield owed political appointments to the Stalwart faction. Garfield died from his wounds on September 19, making Arthur president. Many Americans initially feared that the new president would use the White House to strengthen the patronage system, but Arthur instead supported civil service reform. In 1883, he signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, establishing competitive examinations for certain federal positions and helping establish the principle that government employment should be based increasingly on merit rather than political loyalty. Arthur also signed legislation establishing the modern U.S. Navy's steel-hulled construction program and supported a reduction in high protective tariffs, though Congress did not fully adopt his tariff proposals.

After leaving office in March 1885, Arthur returned to New York City and largely withdrew from public life. His health had deteriorated during his presidency, and he was suffering from Bright's disease, a kidney disorder that was not fully understood or effectively treatable at the time. Arthur had hoped to seek the Republican nomination for another term in 1884, but his health and limited political support made a successful campaign unlikely. Instead, the Republican nomination went to James G. Blaine, who ultimately lost the election to Democrat Grover Cleveland. Arthur spent much of his remaining time at home, maintaining relationships with friends and former political associates while working on his personal papers and legal affairs.

Chester Arthur died in New York City on November 18, 1886, at the age of 57, less than two years after leaving the presidency. He was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York, beside his wife, Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur, who had died in 1880 before he became president. Arthur's historical reputation has changed considerably over time. Once remembered primarily as a product of the political patronage system, he is now often regarded as an important transitional figure in the development of modern federal civil service. His support for the Pendleton Act was particularly significant because it helped begin the transformation of the federal government from a system dominated by patronage appointments toward one based more heavily on professional public service. Though his presidency was not among the most consequential in American history, Arthur's unexpected embrace of reform remains the central feature of his legacy.